Footstool

Label

This footstool descended in the family of Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Martha Custis Peter, with a history of having served as a seat to Mrs. Washington’s French writing desk. One of her descendants, Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon, added the current leather slip-seat in the nineteenth century. Tack holes in the upper part of the seat frame suggest that it was originally upholstered half-over-the-rail. It likely had an upholstered pillow or squab set on top of it to provide additional comfort.

Description

Square stool with four cylindrical, tapered, ring-turned legs joined by box stretchers. Two quarter-round, vertical grain glue blocks secure the join of the legs and the frame at each corner; only two remain, one each in opposite corners, but ghosts testify to the placement of the others.

Square slip-seat covered in dark green leather with a “MW” monogram painted at center in red, green, gold, and black. The leather covering was repaired by Ernest LoNano in 1939.